How does Poe create suspense in the story "The Cask of Amontillado"?

Edgar Allan Poe creates suspense in "The Cask of Amontillado" through the physical journey taken by the central characters, his eerie symbolism, and his references to sickness. These elements work together to let the reader know that Fortunato will die before the story is over.

First, the journey that Fortunato and Montresor take is from the light and joy of a carnival through an underground tunnel that becomes darker, colder and more poisonous as they...

Edgar Allan Poe creates suspense in "The Cask of Amontillado" through the physical journey taken by the central characters, his eerie symbolism, and his references to sickness. These elements work together to let the reader know that Fortunato will die before the story is over.

First, the journey that Fortunato and Montresor take is from the light and joy of a carnival through an underground tunnel that becomes darker, colder and more poisonous as they continue walking. Poe describes their descent into a "deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame," and talks about the nitre in the air around them as they go deeper underground and Fortunato comes closer to death. This slow, dangerous descent helps build suspense as the reader becomes increasingly aware of Fortunato's murderous plan.

Similarly, Poe includes many symbols of death that become increasingly more macabre as the story continues. At the beginning of their journey together, Montresor draws a "mask of black silk" around him, as if he were on his way to a funeral. Next, Poe mentions the "damp ground of the catacombs," which are a more obvious symbol of death. Eventually, Poe launches into a vivid description of the piles of human remains which line the walls of the crypt into which they enter. At this point, the morbidity of the symbolism is clear, and this symbolism has helped to create suspense.

Finally, Poe also builds suspense through Montresor's constant references to Fortunato's sickness and impending death. At first, Montresor pretends to be concerned about Fortunato's cold and cough. Fortunato's response is that he "shall not die of a cough," an answer that seems trite but foreshadows a grim end. Finally, as the nitre begins to have a serious effect on Fortunato, Montresor talks freely about the way the "drops of moisture trickle among the bones." This disgusting response reminds us that they are entering a crypt whose air contains a dangerous chemical on their way to Fortunato's murder.

Because of Poe's skill with words, he was able to create suspense through the construction of a physical journey, the use of macabre symbolism and several references to sickness and death. These elements help keep the reader frightened, intrigued and engaged as the story moves toward its horrible end.